Water hardness
How hard is your water in England?
Find your town's water hardness from its water company, what it means for your kettle, shower and boiler, and whether a softener is worth it.
Find your town
New towns are added regularly. Every town page shows its water company, the postcode checked and the date.
Water hardness map of England
Every dot is a town with a value from its water company. Tap a dot to open its page. More towns are added every week.
How to read the scale
- soft under 100 mg/L
- moderately hard 100 to 199 mg/L
- hard 200 to 299 mg/L
- very hard 300 mg/L or more
Values in mg/L of calcium carbonate. 1 °Clark = 14.25 mg/L and 1 °dH ≈ 17.85 mg/L.
Guides: living with hard water
Clear guides on limescale, from measuring your water to deciding whether a softener is worth it.
Towns
Guides: living with hard water
Hard water explained: what it means for your home
What hard water is, how hardness is measured in England (mg/L and Clark degrees), and why limescale is a nuisance rather than a health risk.
→How to measure water hardness at home
Three simple ways to find your water hardness in England: your water company's postcode checker, test strips or a drop test.
→How to remove limescale: kettle, shower, taps and coffee machine
Safe ways to remove limescale with citric acid or white vinegar, step by step for kettles, coffee machines, shower heads and taps.
→Water softener, filter or descaler: which one do you need?
An honest comparison of ion-exchange softeners, jug and tap filters and simple descaling, and when each one is worth it in England.
→Living with hard water: everyday tips
Practical everyday tips for hard water in England: laundry, dishwasher, kettle, skin and hair, and protecting your boiler.
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